MLB Player News

With Luke Maile (back) heading to the injured list, Wynns gets another opportunity to serve as the Reds’ primary backup behind the dish. He has only appeared in one game at the big-league level this season, going 3-for-5 (.600) with three doubles and an RBI. If he continues to hit like that, it’s going to be hard to send him back down when Maile heals up.

He’ll be taking the spot of Kyle Harrison, who is probably out for the year. Bivens will be pitching on three days’ rest after throwing four innings in relief Wednesday. One imagines he’ll probably be limited to three or four innings as a result.

The bad news is that Merrill was unable to get the hit after pinch-hitting for Tyler Wade. The good news is that he was able to play, and that bodes well for him either returning to the lineup Sunday against the Giants or early in the week; possibly Tuesday against the Mariners in Seattle.

Arraez singled for all three knocks. One of those hits drove in a run off Logan Webb to make it a 4-3 game, but the Padres would get no closer. The .313 average for Arraez is a bit lower than his .322 career mark, but there aren’t any batters more likely to help in the average category than Arraez across the sport.

McCray was “only” credited with five RBI, but he was responsible for all six runs scoring. On top of the two homers, he also hit into a double play that scored a run, but rules say you don’t get credited for an RBI there because reasons. McCray has homered five times in just 19 games with the Giants, and he’s slugging a robust .569 in his 65 at-bats. That’s not even kind of sustainable, but it does show you there’s some pop in the 23-year-old’s bat.

Walker gave up a hit, but he kept the runner from scoring to lower his ERA to a very strong 1.86 ERA. He’s had no issue transitioning to the closer role, as he’s now up to six saves on the season, and he hasn’t blown one since taking over the gig in the middle of August.

Cease gave up a three-run homer to Grant McCray, and McCray also drove in a run — without getting an RBI — on a double play. Outside of that it was a fine start for Cease, but damage done. The right-hander has been a bit shaky as of late, as he posted a 4.43 ERA in the month of August and he’s given up seven runs thus far in his 12 innings in September. He’ll take on the Giants again over next weekend.

Webb also gave up two walks and struck out three. The right-hander was pretty consistently dealing with traffic, so holding the Padres to just the three runs — two of those coming in the first inning — was relatively impressive. It still sees his ERA inch up to 3.46, but at least it comes with a victory. Webb will take on the Padres again over the weekend.

He’ll likely start or serve as a bulk guy Sunday, which suggests Brayan Bello is getting pushed back. Fitts, a product of the Alex Verdugo trade with the Yankees, is 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA and a 111/37 K/BB in 116 2/3 innings for Triple-A Worcester.

Ward’s home run was his 22nd of the season. He hit a solo shot off Jack Leiter to leadoff the game in the first inning. It’s his fourth home run in six games in September so far. Ward is hitting .243 with a .744 OPS and 65 RBI this year.

Jung has six multi-hit games in his last nine games. He’s 15-for-35 (.428) five runs, two home runs and five RBI in that time. Jung missed nearly four months of the year, but he returned in time to show once again that he can still swing the stick.